Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is a great pleasure to be here and I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate him on his reappointment to this very important role. This issue has been something that Deputy Kyne has been very much involved in. We are very aware of his knowledge here today.

This is important legislation and I acknowledge the presence in the Gallery of Deputy McLoughlin, who spearheaded this Bill and has really driven it on in the brief lifetime of this Government. It is an amazing legacy that 13 or 14 months into a new Government, this Private Members' Bill has gone so far and has arrived at this Stage in the Seanad. That is a tribute to the staff that work for Deputy McLoughlin and the ability of his office to ensure that this Bill is safely passed through both Houses.

Every county in Ireland has an interest in ensuring that this legislation is passed because it stamps out an issue that has been creeping in to some parts of this country and about which people were very concerned. Counties Leitrim and Roscommon were mentioned by previous speakers but other counties have been mentioned regarding the actual proposal. Exploration of oil and gas through this method is unfortunately not what we are looking for in Ireland. We have built ourselves on a green economy and on providing for our nation through more appropriate, sustainable means, be that through the solar, wind or wave industries.I would like to mention the research centre in Haulbowline in Cork, its great work on wave energy and the potential that is there for Ireland.

We do not really need this proposal and we do not need fracking the way it has been proposed. Fracking does not suit this country or this nation. In many ways, Deputy Tony McLoughlin captured that and put it in this Bill which he has now delivered through both Houses of the Oireachtas. This is a credit to Deputy McLoughlin, the staff and the Government, which listened to the debate on an important Private Members' Bill. That is what we wanted to see in our Parliament. We wanted to see the Members, whether an assistant Chief Whip or otherwise, bring legislation forward and through both Houses. That is what today is about. I hope the Bill will pass safely through this House today so that it can move forward to the next Stage. I propose that today. I fully back the proposal. This is appropriate legislation. Going forward, more legislation like this is important.